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Saturday, July 26, 2014

5 easy ways to improve your classroom learning space

We are continuing to learn more and more about how kids learn. As a result, this information has significant implications on how we design and recreate our learning spaces. Here are 5 ways to simply and easily improve your classroom learning space.

1). Check out your lighting system...

It's easy to think that turning on all the lights in the classroom is what you should do. That's why we have lights... so they are used, right? Well, I encourage you to experiment and mess around with how you use the lights in your classroom and observe how it affects your students and their behavior. I've found that when the lights are dimmed or not all turned on, the classroom mood is calmer and more relaxed. I've found students to be more at-ease and more comfortable. Also, do you have spots in your classroom where different colors of lights are available? Different colors and brightnesses affect each of us differently, so having a wide-range of spaces available will enhance your classroom. Natural light is the best, so if you have that available, be sure to use it!

2). Sometimes less is more when it comes to classroom decorations...

As a teacher, white empty wall space was my enemy. I did everything I could to cover each and every inch of wall space because I wanted to have a cool and awesome looking room. I never really realized it at the time, but this type of learning space was 'too much' for some of my students to handle. They were unable to retain their focus because there were too many stimuli. There has also been quite a lot of research recently on the topic of room decorations being a distraction for students and that limiting what is included in the learning space actually enhances student learning. Ask yourself if there is a practical and functional purpose for what is in your room, or if it's because it's 'cute.'

3). Add some tunes...

When we are cleaning the house, cooking dinner or washing the car, many of us enjoy listening to music while completing these tasks. Music does more than just entertain our ears while we work, it can also inspire us, it can motivate us, and it can completely recharge our mood on a cloudy and rainy day. Music also helps to keep our focus on the task at hand. Music allows us to disengage from the rest of the world while streamlining our focus on what we are working on. Too often we discourage music in the classroom because it may distract the students, but a little music in the background may be just the ticket to increase engagement and focus on the task at hand. Check out how different types of music affect different types of activities to take adding tunes to your learning space to the next level.

4). Make sure your learning space is mobile...

Physical movement and activity have huge implications on the brain and on how kids learn. A learning space that is constantly stationary and never moves is not taking advantage of what we know about how kids learn and how the brain works optimally. Allow your learning space to be mobile and flexible and encourage movement as part of your everyday approach to learning. Some don't like that moving spaces will make learning less predictable and add more variables, but in the end, the positives will far outweigh the negatives in terms of student engagement and student learning.

5). Have a space for creative thinking and open and visible collaboration...
Every learning space needs a space where kids can get their ideas 'out there.' Learning spaces also need a spot for kids to work collaboratively while brainstorming and discussing. Take a wall in your classroom and use IdeaPaint or add a few whiteboards for kids to document and record their thoughts while working. Make sure this space is visible for others because the process of learning should be celebrated and embraced. We shouldn't focus just on the outcome, but also on the process as it's just as important.

What ideas or strategies would you suggest to improve a classroom learning space?

Agora: Collaborative Classroom

Disclaimer

"Life of an Educator" is the personal blog of Justin Tarte. Here I will share my thoughts on education in an effort to improve schools by helping Educators to reflect upon their current practices and beliefs. The opinions expressed here represent my own and may or may not represent those of my current employer.